He grew up in an affluent [[Louisiana]] family, and began playing chess as a child, dominating a match against the Hungarian master Johann Lowenthal when he was 12. He graduated from law school, but could not practice until he turned 21, so he turned to chess again. | He grew up in an affluent [[Louisiana]] family, and began playing chess as a child, dominating a match against the Hungarian master Johann Lowenthal when he was 12. He graduated from law school, but could not practice until he turned 21, so he turned to chess again. |